Ditched at Disney: What to Do When Ditched at the Happiest Place on Earth

Many people travel to Walt Disney World with their friends and family, and while most of us have an amazing trip, sometimes people decide to be horrible and they ditch you. This happened to me once. I thought to myself, “What does one do when they get ditched at the most magical place on Earth?”

Well, after a quick stop at Epcot for a pity doughnut, I had hatched an epic plan — and it’s probably one of the best days I’ve ever had at Disney. So here are my Top 3 tips for if you get ditched at Disney.

Head on over to Animal Kingdom and get yourself a Wilderness Explorer Field Guide. Animal Kingdom is frequently considered guests' least favorite park, but that's usually because they don't have a game plan for it. With the new addition of Pandora, the park has become more popular, and with this FREE experience, it's an awesome way to explore more of the park and learn more about Animal Kingdom's mission. And you can impress your friends with your fancy new badges and knowledge of spiders.

Snack Around the World

For those of us that like to eat, and have all those Disney Dining Plan snack credits that we can't figure out how to use, this is a great option. Diversify your palate and explore all the delicious treats World Showcase has to offer. If you're there during one of the festivals, even better. Check out those food stations in the pavilions. There are some amazing eats that aren't very expensive and make for a great pick-me-up. A personal favorite is Les Halles in France. You can also swing by a Kidcot stop and pick up a free little Duffy to travel the world with you. It will make you feel very sophisticated when you find out your friends ate nothing but chicken fingers that day.

Resort Hop

Disney has some stunning resorts, and if you're not really looking to spend money, play bus roulette and get on the first bus to a different resort. Guests focus so much on the theme parks that they don't realize the hidden gems a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can have. Animal Kingdom Lodge gives free tours of its restaurants every day. The Grand Floridian has a killer band that plays during the day, and if you're there in the afternoon you might catch a glimpse of a princess or two. Around sunset, the Boardwalk has everything from street performers like magicians and jugglers to low-cost carnival games you can play. And that is just the tip of the iceberg! Visiting the resorts is especially great to do during the Christmas season when you can experience the decorations. There is so much to explore you won't even have time to think about your friends.

Now karma did end up getting my friends back — they forgot I was the gatekeeper to the FastPasses, and that night guess who got stuck on the monorail for 45 minutes while I was having a blast at Chef Mickey’s? It’s true, Pluto became my date for the night. So next time your friends give you the slip or you just want to have a day to yourself, forget them and remember some of these tips. What are some of your favorite things to do solo in Disney World? Or even with a group? Let us know in the comments below.

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